February's 500 was the unveiling for the Gen-6 cars, and as even Speedway officials admitted, it was not the most fan friendly affair.

BRIAN LINDERSTAFF WRITER

DAYTONA B EACH -- Danica Patrick told the media at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday that the Coke Zero 400 will look different than the Daytona 500. February's 500 was the unveiling for the Gen-6 cars, and as even Speedway officials admitted, it was not the most fan friendly affair, as most of the race was spent running single file. “I feel like it is going to be worlds of difference,” Patrick said. “It's maybe a little less single file just because we have been in the car all year and people don't feel the need to just kind of get on with the season, get it started and start the year off well.” Greg Biffle shared similar sentiments after his first practice run Thursday. “I think it will be different,” said Biffle, the driver of the No. 16 Ford. “This race is much different. It's a much hotter, much slicker racetrack. The grip is way, way different, and the racing will look a lot different.” And, Biffle said, he believes that will mean more two- and three-wide racing. “I think (that is what will happen),” he said. “I honestly believe that. “You want to be passing and doing all that. You don't want one lane to be the fast lane around with everybody lined up.” But just what the 2.5-mile tri-oval will allow under the lights Saturday night remained a mystery to many down in the garage. “(Practice) was good,” said Aric Almirola, the driver of the No. 43 Ford. “It was hot and a little bit slick. I think if our car can drive good in those conditions it will drive a lot better at nighttime when the sun is down. I hope it is two or three wide. “It is really hard to get anything done or make any moves when it is single file against the fence,” he added. “Hopefully it will widen out, but I don't know that it will. We will have to wait until the race to find out because we have only been going out in groups of 10 or 12 for practice.” Almirola said the style of racing in the 400 will hinge on what is happening on the top lane Saturday. “If it is ripping around pretty good, and it all forms up there and there are a lot of cars up there, then I don't see how the bottom lane will make much progress,” he said. “But if we take off in the race, and cars are going around the bottom pretty good, then you will see some two-wide racing.”